Online vs In-class Courses

Online vs. Onsite TESOL Courses

The decision to pursue a career or even an interlude as an ESL teacher is a great opportunity to travel and experience a multitude of cultures. For many people this is the one way they can afford to see the world and get a close view to the inner workings of a culture. Being a native English speaker however is not always enough to become an ESL teacher anymore, according to eslbase an online site for ESL teachers and employers. Most English schools require some sort of experience or qualifications in the form of a TESOL course. There are two ways in which prospective English teacher can take a TESOL course; onsite or online. Many different views exist on which method of studying TESOL is more effective for future teachers. But the fact still remains that convenience and time are definite contributors to the decisions future teachers make on which course is best for them. However every country and every school has different requirements and expectations for their teachers so choosing a TESOL course that meets all these requirements can also be a challenge. 

Onsite TESOL courses are conducted all over the world. Students can choose to do the course in their country of origin or abroad in such exotic places as Thailand or Prague. This holds particular appeal to prospective students, whose dream may be to travel. However studying abroad is always expensive and can pose problems for some students. Even though onsite courses may be more expensive they provide future teachers with invaluable in class experience. Prospective employers prefer and may even insist upon onsite TESOL courses due to the practice in the classrooms. Therefore onsite courses are more widely accepted in the job community and this should be considered before choosing a TESOL course. Another benefit of the onsite course is the structure it provides students with. This is particularly useful for those who are not self- motivated. The onsite course provides a fast-paced environment with deadlines for those who require them. There is also the opportunity for face to face contact with a TESOL teacher. This allows for a direct model of the teaching skills being developed. 

An online TESOL course provides students with the flexibility that an onsite course doesn’t. It allows people with a full-time job or career the opportunity to study to be an ESL teacher at their own pace. In addition to its flexibility an online course is also a fraction of the cost of an onsite one. However an online course doesn’t provide students with any actual teaching experience. Therefore due to its lack of direct contact with students, an online course is not as widely accepted by employers. This may make future job searches difficult because employers prefer teachers with some experience. 

Deciding between an online or onsite TESOL course can be a difficult and challenging decision. The onsite course provides students with additional skills that the online course fails to provide. This can pose a problem while job searching so it is important to look into the requirements of the area you are thinking of teaching in before settling on a TESOL course. However the decision of an online or onsite TESOL course depends upon the personal circumstances of each individual. The online TESOL course is a good starting point for someone thinking about a career in ESL and wants to see what it is like. It is also ideal for individuals already in a teaching position but who are looking to improve their teaching skills. In this case lack of in class practice during the course is no longer a concern. On the other hand the onsite course is ideal for those with no prior teaching experience and the free time available to complete a two week or month long course. Both courses provide the basics needed to be an effective ESL teacher, one also provides a bit of classroom confidence prior to the real thing. According to eslbase getting as much qualifications as possible can only be a benefit to a future career in ESL. The confidence and ability this provides is invaluable. 

Online Vs Onsite TESOL

For many ‘Teaching to Speakers of Other Languages’ has become the gateway to the world for newly qualified teachers. Certification can provide a new, exciting way forward towards achieving the goal of a fulfilling, challenging career, enveloped in the culture and language of a foreign country. Open to all native and near native speakers of English, without age restriction nor necessity for previous qualifications, the market for the teaching and provision of the qualification has become increasingly competitive, particularly with the expansion of the internet. 

This essay examines on-line and on-site provision of the course, aiming to provide a balanced argument between the two.

Firstly, with PCs and computers in many homes, on-line TESOL is brought directly into the student’s home making it widely accessible. As a result, the student need not worry about either the cost of travelling to the teaching venue, nor living a distance from the nearest college. 

An on-line course can also be commenced at any date. Courses offered at on-site institutions are often more rigid with specific start dates and the prospective student may have to wait a period of time before embarking on their studies. 

On-line courses can be completed in a shorter timescale than on-site courses. The student can also set the speed and pace in which they work. On-line courses also enable the student to fit in study alongside family and work commitments. This allows students to re- train whilst continuing their current employment providing vital income and financial security along the way. Whilst some on-line courses can be completed over weekend sessions and on a part-time basis, it may be impossible for some students to take four weeks off of work to attend a four week residential course. Similarly, leaving their current employ to do so may be a risk they are unwilling and financially unable to commit to without alternative financial support. For younger students still living at home however, this may be a more viable option. 

Regardless of which course the student undertakes, a financial commitment of some kind is necessary. On-line courses range in cost from ‘200.00 for a 40 hour course to more intensive courses of 150 hours for approximately’ 420.00. For some this provides a cheaper and more manageable option than a residential course. 

Residential courses with a basic certification on completion of a 20 hour face-to-face weekend course start at around ?180.00. Longer on- site courses of four weeks duration and their part-time equivalents are available. However, they tend to be more expensive and limited in location. 

A huge advantage of on-site courses over on-line courses is the focus given to teaching practise. These are often run by expert teachers who bring their knowledge and experience into the classroom. On-line courses have no input or opportunity for the student to develop or practise practical teaching skills or experience classroom dynamics with them at the helm. Their first time in the classroom therefore might be in front of their new class which some new teachers will find daunting and is not ideal. On-site courses therefore offer the better option where practical based skills are concerned. This also gives the potential teachers opportunity to practise and gain confidence in their abilities before they are launched into the classroom for real.

Whilst the on-line course provides students with a tutor contactable by email and telephone for help and advice, the on-site course has the advantage of a teacher to offer immediate assistance and feedback with a physical presence. Some students will relate to and benefit from this particularly the mature student who might have been away from study for some time. 

In conclusion the variety and sheer volume of provision of the TESOL course is good thing. Which system the student chooses will depend on a number of factors including cost, available time, current work/family/life commitments, motivation levels and ultimately which format the student feels is more achievable in view of these factors. Whichever provider the student opts for, certification gives the prospective teacher a great footing from which to enter a new and exciting world of teaching English no matter which foreign country the graduate chooses. 

Online versus Onsite Courses

When researching what Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Course to do I was amazed at the volume of onsite and online courses available. Living in Saudi Arabia the option of doing an onsite course was just not available to me so I decided to embark on the joys of online study. There are definite advantages and disadvantages to studying online, particularly in a country where the internet is fairly new and unpredictable, and I will try to shed a little light on this.

First step was to decide which course to do. There are a number of online resources that claim to help you make the best choice, such as WhichCourse.com, or a simple internet search will bring up more websites dedicated to TESOL than you could ever imagine. Most websites dedicated to TESOL and teacher training will provide a list of their online and onsite courses with course content and other necessary information to assist with the big decision. The decision on which course to do will be based on a number of factors including access to the course, as was the case with me, cost and course content. 

The reasons why people choose online learning can vary and there are definite advantages to doing a course online. In my case, as mentioned, access to a course was the main factor in my decision to do an online course. Most onsite courses occur in English-speaking countries, although there are course available in exotic international locations such as Phuket, Thailand or Rome, Italy. An online course also enables you to work at your own pace and complete the work as time permits, even if it is 2am on a Sunday night. Most onsite courses require a commitment of 4 consecutive weeks, which is just not possible for many people, and the cost tends to be greater than an online course.

There are a number of disadvantages to completing a course online as well and I have to admit that, given the choice, I would have preferred to have done the course onsite. One of the big disadvantages I found was that there is no opportunity to work with other learners and learn from other people in a group, including learning from the teaching experiences of the TESOL teacher trainer, which I feel assists in retaining information and also provides opportunities to share ideas and experiences. Also the lack of immediate access to a teacher is also a disadvantage. Whilst any good online course will provide access to an online tutor who works hard to provide feedback as soon as possible, it is certainly not the same as having someone to provide immediate feedback and discussion on what’s being learned and practice particular difficulties that you might be having. Last, but certainly not least, I believe that doing an online course requires a lot more motivation and commitment to complete than an onsite course. Working at your own pace can be good, but not if that pace is slower than the pace required to complete the course, and of course a reliable internet service provider is an advantage.

In summary, there are situations and circumstances in which completing and online course is the only option. I definitely feel that I have benefited from completing the course, my online tutor was very helpful when I needed it and the course content was comprehensive. However, if the opportunity to do the course onsite is a viable option then I would say that this would provide opportunities, practice and skills that are just available through an online course.